can anyone suggest what bike i might look at for a cyclocross bike?
apart from ridley, bmc, cannondale, orbea and salsa, who else makes cross frames?
to be honest, ridley seems to be the only company that takes cross bikes seriously - they’ve got a full line-up, from the cheap to expensive. this does not surprise me given that they are a belgian company and cyclocross is so huge there (i have a couple flemish friends. my lord, you’d think that the cyclocross worlds was almost more important to these guys than the tour… almost, only because they love steegmans and boonen as much as wellens, nys, etc.).
bmc, orbea, salsa, felt and cannondale only have one bike each (though cdale has 3 different parts specs).
if price range helps you out, i’m selling one of my two road bikes to help fund this - so i’m looking at spending about $3000-$3500 (tops), and looking to spec sram rival or equivalent (centaur or ultegra). probably looking at a $1300 to $1500-ish frame.
i’ve been looking most particularly at ridley and salsa most intently as the lbs that i regularly go to sells them, but there are other bike shops in my area that are quite good and sell other brands.
Depending on what you will be using it for there is a case for going relatively cheap with a cross frame such as the Redlines, etc. The bikes take such a beating and many racers who are serious about cross will have two identical bikes, a “pit” bike as a back-up for very muddy races and then their main bike. If the race is extremely muddy and you have an assistant in the pit they can give you a bike change every lap and rinse the previous bike off, handing you back that (now clean) one on every other lap.
The bikes just take such a beating it is kind of a shame to see a beautiful frame just torn to bits… Then again, I guess that is what they are for.
I agree to get two bikes. Have you raced much cross? If not, why would you want to throw down that kind of bread for a bike that will get beat up pretty badly? I am wishing I had gotten a less nice mountain bike, right about now.
I’ve been quite happen with my Ritchey Break-away cyclocross bike. I have the steel version, but it I have the cash, I’d definitely look at the Ti frameset. Best part about them other than a nice solid frame is that the frame breaks down and you can travel with them without airline fees.
i will be using it for the local cyclocross series (ottawa). i don’t believe there are any pits. i’ll also use it for some road riding.
i wasn’t looking at getting something carbon - i’m too afraid it’ll break if i crash! - moreso just a high end alu frameset.
but you guys have given me something to think about - buy some cheapo frames and let them get destroyed.
i was considering building up some rr 1.1s or mavic open pro rims with dt 240 hubs, but maybe i should just go with the cheapest wheels i can - i.e. mavic aksium or shimano tiagra? any thoughts on that?
If you are really afraid of breaking it in a crash and overall durability, may I suggest you look at bikes with a steel frame? Steel is still pretty common in CX racing.
The new Trek X0 is a vast improvement over the 2007 and earlier bikes. Geometry is very real world (realizing that most people are running less aggressive handlebar drop than they do on the road due to the conditions) and there is a TON of mud clearance. Travis Brown was running like a 45c tubular at cross nationals last year. They finally built a bike that is meant to be the real deal instead of a trumped up touring bike just to fill the gap in their line.
X02 has the spec you are looking for (Rival shifting, RXL wheels - their top aluminum hoops.) Retail is under the bottom level of your range.
